IRL and Unitec Collaboration To Bolster High-Tech Workforce

A closer working relationship between
Industrial Research Ltd and Unitec aims to deliver more and
better work-ready high-tech workers to New Zealand
industry.

IRL and Unitec Institute of Technology today
signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will see the two
organisations collaborating closely for the benefit of the
high-value manufacturing and services sector.

IRL General
Manager of Industry Engagement Gavin Mitchell says the
mutually beneficial collaboration will not only provide IRL
with greater access to the skills and capability existing
within Unitec, but also provide Unitec students with
real-word experience on industry projects, as well as
deliveringmore and better work-ready graduates to industry.

“By working more closely with Unitec, IRL will get to
link New Zealand industry with a greater level of training
capability, and a student-base with a highly desirable
skill-set for project work,” he says. “The collaboration
will also provide IRL with access to a broad range of
technical skills complementing those in the CRIs and the
universities.”

Dr Rick Ede, Chief Executive of Unitec
welcomed the initiative, saying: “Unitec is excited about
the opportunities that collaboration will bring for the two
organisations in the areas of material science, product
development, engineering and building productivity. Working
with IRL will give our students unprecedented access to real
industry projects, providing them with the valuable
opportunity to work alongside researchers and industry in a
constructive learning environment."

The MoU between IRL
and Unitec is the latest in a range of initiatives IRL is
pursuing with New Zealand universities and polytechnics
aimed at ensuring the effective deployment and growth of R&D
services as well as providing industry with the appropriate
skills for high value manufacturing.

About
IRLIndustrial Research Ltd’s purpose is to increase
the contribution of the industrial manufacturing and
associated sectors to the New Zealand economy by empowering
industry to drive innovation in manufacturing and services.
Its wide capability of science and engineering expertise
serves sectors as diverse as pharmaceutical manufacturing,
specialist food processing, and energy and power systems and
enables it to act as the R&D arm of New Zealand industry.
For more information visit: www.irl.cri.nz

About UnitecUnitec
is the largest Institute of Technology in New Zealand. With
23,000 students enrolled in 165 courses, Unitec is committed
to the delivery of vocational and applied education and
practically orientated research. Unitec believes in the
transformative power of education. Their lecturers are a mix
of working professionals who are authorities in their
fields, industry specialists with in-depth knowledge of
their subjects and professional academics undertaking
research in their areas of expertise. Unitec’s focus on
real world education provides work-ready graduates with
highly sought after professional and vocational skills. For
more information visit: www.unitec.ac.nz.

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